Thames (NZ): 250 Years since James Cook visited and named The Thames

Today is the Day! 250 years ago James Cook and his exploration party ventured up the Waihou River and named the river area The Thames!

I made a brief stop at the Kopu Bridge this morning, and the feeling was one of  disbelief . What would it have been like to be in one of the villages along the river and see on the horizon two boats rowing up the river! Had advance warning been received? Or was it a complete surprise to see these men appear.

 

The Cook Memorial has not yet been reinstated! This was a terrible oversight by our local Council; and wouldn't have happened at any of the chosen places to be part of the Tuia 250 Encounter sites.

Thankfully the Thames Heritage Network Members came to the rescue and a temporary poster produced. Today thanks to Alan (Goldmine Experience) and Carolyn (Thames Museum) the poster was placed near the old Kopy Bridge. Also on display was Carolyn's mobile display on Captain Cook - a series of laminated cards that give background to Cook's voyage to and around Aotearoa New Zealand.

 

Several members of the Thames Heritage Network, met at the bridge and shared breakfast in memory of the 250th year anniversary of Cook travelling the waters of the Thames Firth / Tikapa Moana.

The Temporary Poster telling the story of Cook's 1769 visit to Waihou

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Update 21 November 2019

I touched yesterday on the support from the Thames Heritage Network, and was remiss not to acknowledge the members of the Historic Kopu Bridge Society who are always available to come and support events such as this. 

Below left: Rachel,Sereena and Francis read the 'Cook poster'. Below right: Gary at the breakfast gathering - he has taken time over the past weeks to raise the profile of the voyage of James Cook.

  

When will the Cook Memorial be reinstated?

Thanks to the people who have contacted me about this. The expected date in early in the New Year, I will keep you posted!

1949 View of the Memorial which was erected and unveiled 21 November 1941.